Air Quality

Consumer Resources

Sizing a Room Dehumidifier is Important for Maximum Comfort

Sunday, April 06, 2014

Humidity levels naturally increase in step with the climbing spring and summer temperatures in the Midwest, Northeast, East and South. While it can be a refreshing change from the dry air of winter, humidity levels can rise to the point of discomfort, even indoors. To make matters worse, indoor humidity can contribute to allergic reactions, mold growth, and condensation inside the house.

A dehumidifier can remove excess moisture from your home. However, it's important to size the dehumidifier properly to get the maximum drying effect, no matter if you are choosing a portable unit or one that is built into your HVAC system.

The basic factor in sizing room dehumidifiers is how many pints of liquid they remove from the environment in a 24-hour period. The more pints it can remove, the more efficiently it is working. A larger unit will dehumidify a smaller space faster than a smaller unit.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers' guidelines for sizing room dehumidifiers consider two factors: 1) how large a space you are trying to dehumidify and 2) how much humidity you're trying to extract from the space. The humidity levels can range from mildly damp with a bit of a musty smell in humid conditions to extremely wet with condensation on the floors and sweating walls.

In 500 square feet, the recommendations range from a dehumidifier that can remove 10 pints for a mildly damp space up to 16 pints for an extremely wet space.

In 1,000 square feet, the recommendations range from 14 pints for a mildly damp space up to 23 pints for an extremely wet space.

In 1,500 square feet, the recommendations range from 18 pints for a mildly damp space up to 30 pints for an extremely wet space.

In 2,000 square feet, the recommendations range from 22 pints for a mildly damp space up to 37 pints for an extremely wet space.

In 2,500 square feet, the recommendations range from 26 pints for a mildly damp space up to 44 pints for an extremely wet space.